Walnut Creek Opens Yard Sign Recycling as Measure RTM Passes

Free Election Yard Sign Recycling at Walnut Creek City Hall Through Nov. 11

Residents can drop off corrugated plastic election yard signs and metal frames for free recycling at Walnut Creek City Hall, located at 1666 N. Main St., from November 4 through November 11 in partnership with Ridwell, according to Claycord. Because corrugated plastic campaign signs cannot be processed through standard curbside recycling bins, Ridwell is collecting the materials directly, with RecycleSmart fielding program questions at authority@recyclesmart.org.

Walnut Creek Arts + Rec Unveils November and December Schedule

Walnut Creek Arts + Rec announced its late-autumn schedule of workshops, exhibitions, and holiday marketplaces across the Center for Community Arts, Civic Park Assembly Hall, Bedford Gallery, and the Lesher Center:

• 2027 Winter Class Registration: Upcoming winter classes go on view online Wednesday, November 11, with online registration opening Wednesday, December 2, at 12:00 p.m. (program withdrawals or transfers require at least 14 calendar days' notice before the start date, carry a $12 fee per person per program, and are refunded within 3 weeks; questions can be directed to artsrec@walnut-creek.org or 925-295-1490).
• Featured Workshops & Dance Series: Events include Cocktails & Conversations with Bedford Gallery curators Emilee Enders and Erica Schulz examining the High Pile: Concepts in Tufting exhibition on Thursday, November 5 (5:30–7:00 p.m.); Paint & Sip: Hot Cocoa and Fall-Inspired Still Life on Friday, November 13 (6:00–8:00 p.m.); Open Studio Weaving from November 15 to December 20; Ceramic Gingerbread Ornament Workshop on Wednesday, November 18 (12:00–1:30 p.m.); Nature Art Box on Thursday, November 19 (4:00–6:00 p.m.); youth camps on November 23–24 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. for ages 6–8, 6–11, and 9–14); December Dance Series ballet classes running November 30–December 16 (Mondays 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Tuesdays 9:45–10:45 a.m., and Wednesdays 10:00–11:00 a.m.); and Holiday Happiness on Thursday, December 12 (4:00–6:00 p.m.).
• Performances, Craft Markets & Scholarships: On Thursday, November 19, Kenn Adams of Well-Made Improv leads an Improv Jam (7:00–9:00 p.m.) while three-time Grammy nominee Gretchen Parlato—featured on over 85 albums with more than 30 awards—performs at the Lesher Center at 7:30 p.m. for SFJAZZ. The 18th annual Craft Fest at the Bedford Gallery runs Saturday, November 21 (10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), followed by the annual Chili Bowl Fundraiser at Civic Park Assembly Hall (supporting 100% adult ceramic scholarship funding) and the Handcrafted Holiday Sale on Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, featuring over 65 artist vendors. Meanwhile, the Community Arts Foundation is matching donations dollar-for-dollar through a $26,500 Quest Foundation grant toward an $80,000 scholarship and outreach goal.

Bay Area Voters Pass Measure RTM Transit Tax Amid Oversight Debate

Across Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, voters approved Measure RTM—the Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative—with over 60% of the vote, needing only a simple five-county majority, according to KALW and NBC Bay Area. Backed by SPUR and the Bay Area Council, where policy expert Emily Loper celebrated the coalition victory, the 14-year measure establishes a 1% sales tax in San Francisco and a half-percent (0.5%) sales tax in Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, raising nearly $1 billion per year to prevent service cuts at BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain (alongside San Francisco's Proposition H parcel tax, which passed with over 70% approval).

In a statement published by Claycord, former BART Board Director Debora Allen noted that nearly half a million Bay Area voters opposed the measure despite a campaign spending disparity approaching 500 to 1, with the Yes campaign raising almost $10 million in direct contributions compared with roughly $20,000 for volunteer opponents in the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit (CABAT), SHIFT, and the Contra Costa Taxpayers' Association. Allen argued that the enabling legislation, Senate Bill 63, failed to establish independent financial oversight for the transit agencies.

Warming Trend in the 70s Paired With 12-to-16-Foot Coastal Surf

National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy reported that building high pressure will bring sunny skies and interior high temperatures in the mid to upper 70s—with pockets of 80s in the southern Santa Clara Valley and inland Central Coast—before wetter weather potentially returns past November 11, according to NBC Bay Area. Along the coast, however, a Beach Hazard Statement warns of sneaker waves, rip currents, and breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet from Thursday through Saturday, while a Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Monday for up to 1.6 feet of inundation along low-lying areas of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Monterey bays.